n Hamburg: A Polka Spring Fling featuring The Polka Family Band is set for April 21 at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, 94 Walnut Road. It will include a polka Mass at 12:30 p.m. and dancing from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be for sale. Those planning to attend are urged to buy tickets, which are $10 each, in advance by calling the church at 610-562-7657. For directions or more informantion, go online to www.rc.net/allentown/stmaryhamb.
n Millersburg: The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art has teamed up with Millersburg borough, Millersburg High School and the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg to present Cruisin' the Cosmos, a free family astronomy program, set for 7:45 p.m. Saturday. Via a telescope, participants will see Saturn, Jupiter and "other wonders of the night sky," according to a press release from Alexis Dow Campbell, the center's director of creative programming. In the event of rain or too much cloud cover, the event will be reslated for April 27. Admission is free, but advance registration is requested. To register, call the center at 717-692-3699 or visit its website at www.nedsmithcenter.org.
n Nuremberg: The Nuremberg Reading Center has acknowledged a gift of "The Perfect Game," in memory of Ryan Nensteil, from Cassie, Brittany, Amanda, Keith, D, Sarah, Joe and Lauren.
n Pottsville: Six Schuylkill County restaurants will participate on April 23 in a special dining event to raise funds for Schuylkill Wellness Services, which provides prevention education and case management for HIV and HIV/STD screenings. Each participating restaurant will donate 20 percent of the evening's food receipts to SWS. To aid the cause, people may simply enjoy dining at one of the eateries. Participating restaurants - and their phone numbers to make reservations - include: Vito's Coal-Fired Restaurant, Saint Clair, 570-429-1888; The Brick House Grill, Orwigsburg, 570-366-5220; The Greystone Restaurant, Pottsville, 570-628-4220; Roman Delight Restaurant, Orwigsburg, 570-366-1914; Francesco's Ristorante, Shenandoah, 570-462-3451, and Oak Hill Inn, Orwigsburg, 570-366-3881. There will also be a Dine Out for a Good Cause Raffle with a grand prize of $1,000 cash, a second prize of a full-day rental at Barefield park in Pottsville, a $500 value; a third prize of a Lowe's gift card valued at $250 and a fourth prize of a two-day and one-night mid-week stay at Cove Haven Resorts in the Poconos. Raffles are $3 each or four for $10. For tickets or more information, call 570-622-3980. SWS is a participating United Way agency.
n Pottsville: In celebration of National Jazz History Month, the Schuylkill County Council of the Arts will present Cabaret Night at the Blue Note Cafe from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Pottsville Club. 201 S. 26th St. Tickets are $20 and will include light fare. There will be a cash bar. Performers will include Ron Stabinsky on piano, Joe Cole on bass, Rudy Petschauer on drums, Chris Heslop on reeds, Bob Meashey on trumpet and vocalists Kim Russell-Seibert and Mark Mahal. The public is welcome. For tickets or more information, call the arts council at 570-622-2788, ext. 0.
n Pottsville: Members of the Pottsville Kiwanis Club recently attended an evening meeting during which David Plevyak, director of blood services with the American Red Cross, spoke about what is involved in sponsoring a Red Cross blood drive. He also provided information about an upcoming blood drive set for 1 to 6 p.m. Monday in Trinity Lutheran Church Hall, 300 W. Arch St. The drive, he said, is open to the public. To schedule an appointment, people can to online to www.redcrossblood.org or call 800-RED-CROSS.
n Shenandoah: The Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens group is accepting reservations for the following bus trips on its agenda: May 16, to American Music Theatre, Lancaster, for "Broadway: Now and Forever," at a cost of $65; June 10 to 13, to Lake George and Lake Placid at a cost of $450. The public is welcome to participate on the trips. For reservations or more information, call Dolores at 570-462-3222.